The Secrets to Great Flossing

We’ve got a great way you can save yourself a few hundred dollars and the pain of an extra dental procedure! The best part is it only takes about a minute a day, and when done properly it won’t cause you any pain at all. Would you like to know what it is?

Flossing!

We all know you’ve likely been scolded once or twice by your dental hygienist to do a better job flossing, and if you haven’t yet heeded these warnings it’s time for you to get serious about it. We’ve put together a quick guide to ensure you are flossing the proper way, to not only maximize your cleaning, but also to avoid receiving bad news on your next visit that you’ll need to have a cavity filled.

Floss after every meal – We all live busy lives, but take that extra minute and floss your teeth before heading out the door. At the very minimum, floss before bed to decrease bacteria’s growth over night.

Grab your preferred floss – We recommend a wider, waxed floss since it’s a bit easier to slide between teeth and covers more area.

Cut off a piece roughly 18 inches long – You don’t want to use the same spot of floss for between each set of teeth, so this will give you enough floss to do in between them all.

Floss all around each tooth – Start on one side and work across, and then switch to the top or bottom and do the same thing. Make sure you carefully slide the floss in between each set of teeth rather than snapping the floss down, which damages your gums and may cause bleeding. Hit all areas of the tooth with the floss, and don’t forget the backsides of your teeth in the very back of your mouth.

Follow this simple guide at least once a day and you’ll be on your way to a healthier and happier smile. Keep in mind that even if you have dental appliances like bridges or braces, you’ll want to be sure you’re flossing around these as well. If you are flossing between braces, make sure you are extra careful to thread under the main wire and go between the teeth to avoid missing parts of the teeth. Never skip flossing just because you have braces! It may be even more vital since it’s easier for things to get trapped in your mouth.

Of course if you run into any issues or have any questions be sure to give us a call here at Susquehanna Dental Arts. We’ll be happy to help!